Page:Vermin killer (1).pdf/14

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14

to destory worms in apple-trees.

Lay a sea onion about the trees, to preserve them from worms; if they come naturally, bull's gall, or hog's dung mingled with man's urine, and poured to tke roots, destroys them; bnt if they are hard to destroy, the bark must be digged into with a brass pin, or such like tool, and tended till the point takes upon the worms, and drive them from the place; but where there is a place ulcerated, stop it with ox-dung. An apple tree plant, the root being anointed with bulls gall, they and their fruit will be free from worms.—Mizaldus.

POLECATS.

1st. If you can conveniently have a channel about your pigeon house, and that will preserve them and all other fowl, for no beast of prey will take the water.

2d. Some make a dead fall to take them, which is made of a square piece of Wood, weighing forty or fifty ponnd; they bore a hole in the middle of the upper side, and set a crooked hook fast in it, also they set four forked stakes fast in the ground, and there lay two sticks across, on which sticks lay a long staff to hold the dead fall up to the crook, and under this crook they put a short stick, fasten a line to it, and this line must reach down to the bridge below; aud this bridge you must make about five or six inches broad. Then set on both sides of this fall, boards or pales, or hedge it with close rods, and make it ten or twelve inches high; let the passage be no wider than the fall is broad.

BADGERS.

Badgers are pernicious creatures, and destroy young lambs, pigs, and poultry. Some make a pitfall about five feet deep, and four long, make it narrow at the top and bottom, and wider in the middle; then cover it with some small sticks and leaves so that he may fall in when he comes on it; sometimes a fox is taken thus.